Packing machinery



April l2, 1932. w. E. MoLlNs PACKING MACHINERY 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 14,

April 12, 1932-. w. E. MoLlNs PACKING MACHINERY 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 8 2 9 l 4 l V O N d e l .l F

EGE.

April 12, 1932. W. E. Moms 1,853,447

PACKING MACHINERY y Filed Nov. 14, 1928 4 SheecS--Sheefl A Patented Apr. l2, 1932 STATES arent oFFIcE WALTER EVERETT MOLINS, OF LONDON', EIVGLJLTD` PACKING MACHINERY Application led November 14, 1928, Serial No. 319,269, and in Great Britain December 5, 1927.'

rlhis invention is for improvements in or relating to cigarette packing machinery, and more particularly to a machine designed to pack cigarettes or like articles in a carton of 5 the kind comprising either one or two pockets formed, or each formed, so as to hold a single row of cigarettes with the axes thereof disposed parallel to the mouth of the pocket, and wherein the one pocket and a cover, oi' the two l pockets, are hinged together by a flap which extends across the open end or the open vends of the pocket or pockets when the cover of the pocket is closed or when one pocket is folded upon the other.

The present invention consists of a packing machine operable to pack automatically cigarettes or like articles in a carton of the kind referred to which comprises means (for example an endless conveyor) operable to move a batch or two batches of cigarettes into er1- gagement with a blank composed of two sec* tions united by a fiap so that the aXes of the cigarettes are disposed at right angles to the longer dimension of the blank, and means operable to move the batch or batches of cigarettes, together with the blank, through folding mechanism arranged either to fold one section of the blank into a Ushaped block ended pocket about the batch of cigarettes SG and the other section into a cover, or to fold the two sections each into a U shaped block ended pocket about a batch of cigarettes in such a manner that the open ends of the pockets are directed towards one another.

Further, the present invention comprises means for feeding a web or webs of wrapping material across the path of the batch or batches of cigarettes, means for severing a strip or strips of material from the webs, and means for wrapping the strip or strips of material around the cigarettes, prior to the same engaging with the blank from which the carton is formed. I

The invention also comprises a device for 47' automatically closing cartons or the like of the type referred to wherein means are ar'- ranged to receive the said cartons in an eX- tended condition and move the same through mechanism operable automatically to fold 5f either the pocket and the cover or the two pocketsvon'e upon the other, and if desired, means -are provided forL strengthening the said flap by folding and securing the side eX- tensions of the flap.

rihel invention is same downwardly upon the more particularly described with reference to the accom an in@ b drawings, in which Fig.y l is a plan of a machineconstructed according to the present invention with the carton closing mechanism indicated diagram matically,

` Fig. 2 shows the Vblank from which a carton is produced,

ing in the direction of the arrow E, .'Fig. 8 is a sectional elevation of the' fon folding frame shownfin Fig. 4,

Fig. 9 is an end view of Fig. 8,. Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic elevation partly in section, of the closing gear,

Fig. l1 is a plan of Fig. l0,

Fig. l2 is an end view, partly in section, of

Fig. 10p/looking in the direction of the ar row F, 5

kFigures 13 and 14 are enlarged fragmentary views of a vportion of Figure 4 illustrating two positions which the parts ofthe apparatus assume during operation, and

Figure 15 is an enlarged perspective view of asportion of the mechanism shown in Figure l.

Referring to the drawings which illustrate the method of making a double pocket carton of the kind ,referredH to, the machine'comprises a main bed l on which is mounted a cigarette hopper 2.

The cigarette hopper 2V comprises two distinct sets of vane openings 2a and 2l anda pusher piece 3 of a conveyor 4 is arranged to pass'beneath the vane' openf ings so as to vrremove two distinct batches of cigarettes simultaneously.

The two batches of cigarettes are separated from one another by a spacing member 5 and are so disposed as to pass beneath acover plate 6 mounted above the bed of the machine.

There is provided `at each side of the bed 1 of the machine, guides 7 which taper towards the centre line of the machine as shown in Fig. 1 for the purpose of bunching each batch of cigarettes together into a compact Vbatch after the cigarettes have been removed from the vanes in loose formation.

Each compact batch of cigarettes is thereafter moved into engagement with astrip of foil fed througha slot 11 in the bed of the machine as shown in Fig. 4. Each foil wrap- 1 ,3 ping unit comprises a reel of foil 9 from which a web is drawn by a pair of rollers 10. The free end of the foil is fed through the slot 11 and a strip of foil is severed from the web by a rotating cutting mechanism 12 as each batch of cigarettes meets the foil.

It will be observed that the foilinof units are spaced apart lengthwise of the abed of the machine so that the right-handrbatch :".f' of thermachine is suiiicient to form a strip of the required length, a moving batch of cigarettes meets the web of foil and a strip is automaticallly severed therefrom and the cigarettes .are thereafter moved between plates 13 and 14 which are mounted a short distance above the Ybed of the machine. The'plates -13 and14, together with the bed surface, form folding boxesand the foil strip is folded around the leading end of a-batch of cigarettes in such a manner that a short length of the same is disposed beneath the cigarettes and the remaining length extends over the upper surface of the cigarettes with an extension extending beyond the rear end of the cigarettes. The piece of foil which trails behind the cigarettes is Vfolded around the rear end of the same and beneath the cigarettes until the same overlaps the short length of the first fold hereinbefore referred to.

'The folding operations of the foil are carried out as follows Y The pusher piece 8 of the conveyor 4 moves the partly wrapped batchof cigarettes into one of the compartments of a rotatable frame or carrier'16 (Figs. 8 and 9). The carv rier -16' comprises a series of flat plates spaced compartments 15.

therein. The carrier 16 is arranged so that the compartment thereof which is disposed at the lower level forms a continuation of the folding boxes formed by the surfaces of the bed 1 of the machine, and the folder plate 14 hereinbefore referred to.

Then a batch is disposed within the lower compartment 15 of the carrier, the same ceases to be under the control of the pusher piece 3 which is automatically movedY beneath the bed of the machine. i

1T he compartment 15 is furnished with spring'plate 17 which forms a stop for locating a batch of cigarettes within the same, and also forms means for retaining the cigarettes in position when the carrier is rotated. The carrier 16 is then rotated through 180O in the direction of the arrow G, Fig. 9, by a Geneva movement (not shown), and this motion brings the loaded compartment to a higher level and also brings the second compartment of the carrier into position to receive. the next partly wrapped batch of ci garettes.

The rotation of the carrierv causes the trailing endl Hof the foil wrapper, Fig. 9, to move into Contact with the curved end 18 ofthe f plate 14 which folds the same about the rear end of the batch of cigarettes so that when the batch occupies the upper position the foil is wrapped` arounclfthecigarettes as indicated in Fig. 9. v

A conveyor 19 mounted above the bed of the machine is operable so that a pusher piece 2O thereof periodically moves through the upper compartments 15 of the rotatable carrier 16 and removes the Vwrapped batch of cigarettes therefrom. Y The batch of cigarettes is carried from the carrier 16between guides 21 which fold the fiaps H of the foil around what was the rear end of the cigarettes until their position was reversed. rlhe batch of cigarettes is then placed in position upon a blank, automatically fed into position.

The blank feed illustrated is Vof the tvpe described in my copending application Serial No. 229,475 and comprises an inclined plate 22 (Fig. 1) on whichV the blanks 23 are stacked. The blanks are fed downwardly, one -at a time, by a reciprocating needle pad and pass through a scoring or embossing roller 24. f I

The details of the blank feed are set out in detail in specication No. 285,540, and the rollers 24 are arranged to score the blanks in the manner indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2, and a pair of rollers 25 and 26 are arranged to receive the score blank and feed the same to mechanism shown in detail in Figs. 6 and 7.

. Referring to Figs. 1, 6 and 7; the scored blankis moved by the rollers 25 and 26 above a pair of guides 27 and 28 so that the same lies -centrally above the said guides.

p A former or'plunger 29, carried onv arms 30 and oscillated by a cam 31, is operable to move ietween the guides 27 and 28, and a secondV the blank are bent upwardly at right angles to the surface of the blank.

A series of rota-ting feed rollers are mounted so that the upper surfaces thereof lie flush with the bottomof the guides 27 and 28, and a series of co-operating friction rollers 37 are mount-ed onthe former 29 so tha y when the former 29 has moved between the guides 27 and 28 and the former 32 h as moved downwards sufficiently to release the blank from the grip of the two formers, the rollers 35 and 37 come into contact with the blank and feed the same in the direction of the arrow J, Fig. 6.

The blank is moved by the rollers 35 and 37 between a pair of folders 38 which bend .if over the vertical narrow side folds of the packet until they lie flat in Contact with the surface of the blank, and guides 39 are fitted to the ends of the folders to keep the blank straight during this operation. Theblank iS carried beneath the folders 38 by means of a pair of feed rollers 40. The blank then passes between pair of rollers 41 and 42, the upper one being furnished with convex portions 43 on its rim, the lower one being furnished with co-operating concave portions on its rim.

As ythe blank passes between these rollers,

thescalloped edges formed in the slotted ends y c ofthe blanks are bent upwardly so that they will grip the cigarettes and retain them in position when the carton is completed.

The blank is next fed onwardly'by a pair of 'feed rollers 44 and 45a,`the latter being driven from the former by means of a belt 45, when it will be found that the narrow side folds of the blank are almost flat again owing to the natural resiliency of the material from which the blank is formed, but if necessary, folders may be provided at this stage to press the iiaps flat so that when the end panels c are folded over, their side folds a and b will e1.- tend beyond the corresponding folds (Z and e-of the central portion of the blank.

The blank is now lying across the main bed 1 in the position indicated by chain lines at K in Figs. l and 4.

The blank is carried along thebed of the Y machine by one of the pusher pieces of the chain conveyor' 47 and at the same time the wrapped batches of cigarettes are brought Aalong the guides 21 by the pusher piece of the conveyor 19.

"When the two batches of cigarettes reach the end of the lower guide 2l they fall from the sloping end of the 'guide on'to 'the blank,

and a cam operated presserplate or'dabber 48 moves downwardly and presses the batches squarely on to the blanks.

The presser plate is pivoted at49 and plate cam 50 rotated in the direction indicated in Fig. 4, lifts the larm 51 and causes thel presser plate to oscillate about the pivot ingsA i f The loaded blank is now carried by the pusher piece `46 through folders 52 which turn up the end flaps c of the blank about the scored lines 7c.

` The blank then passes 'through :another pair of folders 53 which turn downV the end flaps c of the blankabout the scored lines l.

The .partlyl folded carton is transferred from 'the main bed 1 of the machine into the path of a conveyor which carries thesa'me through gumming gear by means of a reciprocating claw 54 (see Figs. 1 and 4). The claw the 49 as shown inFigures 13 and 14 of the draw-y 54 ispivoted at 55 to a cam lever 56 pivoted at 57 'and oscillated by la cam 58. The claw 54 draws thecarton from between the folders 53 and deposits the carton 'beneath a plate'59, mounted above the conveyor channel. guideplate 60` is pivoted at 61 and is raised periodically by a cam 62. f

lhen the claw 54 moves to the left in Fig. 4, the guide plate 60 lis* inthe position shown in that figure, but vas the claw moves back during the return stroke of the same, `the plate 60 is raised upwardly aboutthe pivot 61 by a cam 62 so that the claw is also raised to clear the next succeeding carton. The partly formed carton now lies in the position indicated by chain lines at L on Figs. 1 and 4 in the path of one of a series of pusher pieces 63 on a chainconveyor 64.

The leading edge ofthe carton .lies'against a plate 65 which constitutesa folder'or opener and the rear edge of the carton 'lies lagainst a similar plate 66 so that when the cartonmoves past-the opener, the upstanding side folds of the panels 7i and j are supported ina vertical position, but the side folds of the panel c are bent into ahorizontal`r position. It` willbe noted from Figure 15 ofthe drawings `that the guides 65 and 66 are 'provided with bevelled edges so shaped as to effect proper manipulation of the several folds of the carton.

'The carton thereafter moves between guides 67 *and overa pair of gum wheels 68, rotating in bath of gum 69, and gun is applied to the flaps a and b of the panels c.

After the carton has been gummed the same. moves between ka pair of folders 70 which fold down the flaps a 'and b 'on to the corresponding flaps of the panels h and j and the folded and gummed carton is discharged by the conveyor 64 into the magazine or stacker 71. The sides of the stacker are heated by electricor other heaters landet the base of the 'stacker is a yplate .72 carried on` a guide 73 and reciprocated vertically by a cam 74. When the packet has been raisedup- Wardly into the magazine over a distance of approximately its own thickness, itis Vmoved in thedirection ofthe arrow M, Fig. 5,' by means of a pusher bar 75 by the cam 76.

The-purpose of this movement is to stagger the packets so that the vertical tabs m which form the locking catches of the finished packet are not distorted by being thrust into contact with the preceding packet.

Spring retainers 77 are provided in the magazine to support the pile of packets as the plate 7 2 moves downwards. y

Referring to F igs.'10, 11 andl 12, the-flat open packets rise to the top of the magazine 71 and a reciprocatingpusher 7 8 thrusts the packet from the top of the magazine into the path of conveyor pieces 79 carried on a chain conveyor 80.; The pusher 7 8 is operated by an arm 81 in the manner indicated in Fig. 10. The packet is moved from the top of the magazine 71 by the lip 83 on the pusher 78, and during this movement the vprojection 84 yon the pusher bends out the forward tab, or

extension of the central hinge n of the blank to a horizontal positiomand on the return stroke the projection 85 on the pusher bends out the rear tab ainto the horizontal position. The purpose of this movement is to open these tabs so that gum may be applied thereto. The pusher 7 8 is raised upwards on the return stroke of the same as indicated by chain lines in Fig. 10.

The packet is conveyed by thek pusherv pieces 79 so that the central flap of the packet passes beneath a gum wheel 86 which receives gum from a disc 87 which runs in a gum bath 88. The wheel`86 is arranged to receive gum from the disc 87 during the interval between successive packets. v

The two pockets of the' carton are bent downwardly by guides 89 so that the central flap of the packet is raised up on the central bar 90, thus rendering it easy to apply gum and fold over the tab n. The leading tab n is folded down by a fixed guide 91 and the rearl tab n is folded down by arproj ection 92 on a rotary member 93.

The packet next passes into the closing gear as indicated by chain lines N in Fig. 12, and an oscillatingarm'v 94 operated by-a link 95 and cam 96 raises one pocket into a vertical position where it is retained by a spring catch 97.

The carton moves onwards and ranother oscillating arm 98 operated by the same mechanism as the arm 94 swings the vertical pocket downwardly on to the other pocket.

VThevertical pocket is guided during this movement by a guide 99which ensures that the tabs are in their respective slots p and the complet-ed pocket shown in Fig. 3` is discharged from the machine. Although the invention hereinbefore described has been particularly concerned with batches of cigarettes which are automatically wrapped in foil prior to the same being deposited upon a blank of the type illustrated in F ig. 2 of the accompanying drawings, nevertheles's it will be appreciated that instead of the cigarettes being enveloped in foil prior to the same being deposited upon the blank, the foil may be deposited upon the blank prior to the same being fed into position to receive the cigarettes, vwhereupon the cigarettes are deposited upon the foil resting upon the blank, andthe blank and foilY are thereafter automatically folded abbut the cigarettes, in which case it will be observed that the foil will bewrapped in an opposite direction to the manner set forth with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Therefore with a packet of the above character the foil may be used for raising the cigarettes to the mouth of the pocket, and if necessary, the slot formed in the pocket may be dispensed with and the foil used as the sole means for raising the cigarettes.

lVhat I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a machine for automatically wrapping cigarettes, the combination with means for feeding a wrapper, of means for feeding a batch of cigarettes transverselyof the path of feed of the wrapper to cause the batch to engage and fold the wrapper around one end of the cigarettes, means for reversing the batch and wrapper with respect to the direction of movement thereof, a continuous conveyor for delivering the batch and partially folded wrapper to said last named means, and means engaged by the wrapper subsequent to the reversal thereof forv folding the wrapper about the'opposite end of the batch.

2. In a machine for automatically wrapping' cigarettes, the combination with means for feeding a wrapper, of means for feeding a batch of cigarettes transversely of the path of feed of the wrapper to cause the batch to engage and fold the wrapper around one end of the cigarettes, means for rotating said batch and wrapper to reverse the same with respect to the direction of movement thereof, a continuous conveyor for delivering the batch and partially folded wrapper to said last named means,y and stationary means engaged by the wrapper subsequent to the reversal thereof for folding the wrapper about the opposite end ofthe batch.

3. In a machine Vfor automatically packing cigarettes in a carton, the combination with means for depositing a batch of cigarettes on a portion of a carton blank, of means for moving the blank and batch in such direction that the free portion of the blank eX- tends laterally ofthe path of movement of the blank, means for folding the free portion of the blank over the cigarettes during such movement, means for securing the side eX- tensions of the carton together, and mechanism for moving the blank through said' last named means in a direction substantially at right angles to the first direction of movement.

4. In apparatus of the class described, means for depositing separate batches of cigarettes on aligned separate sections of a carton blank with the aXes of the cigarettes disposed perpendicularly to the direction of alignment of the blank sections, means for folding the separate sections about the batches to form two cigarette containing pockets having the open ends thereof directed toward one another with the cigarettes parallel to the open ends, and means for folding the two pockets together so that the connecting portion of the blank forms a closure for the open pocket ends.

5. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with a stacker, of means for feeding double pocket cartons upwardly through said stacker with the pockets thereof opened out and in alignment, and means located at the upper end of the stacker for folding the cartons to superimpose one pocket on the other as the cartons emerge from the stacker.

6. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with a stacker, of means for feeding cartons having a projection at one end extending outwardly from one face of the carton npwardly through the stacker, and means for shifting each carton laterally within the stacker after the carton has been introduced and elevated within the stacker to afford clearance for the projection on the succeeding carton.

7 In a machine for packing cigarettes in cartons, the combination with a pivoted element biased to engage and compress a batch of cigarettes Within a carton, of a rotatable cam, a follower movable with said element and engaging said cam to retain said element out of engaging position, said cam being formed to suddenly release the said follower whereby the force of compression exerted by lthe element on the cigarettes will be increased by impact.

8. Apparatus for folding and delivering blanks comprising stationary folding means, formers adapted to grip a blank therebetween and move the latter downwardly through said means to fold the blank, rotatable means disposed beneath said blank when the latter is in folded position, and means for separating said formers to permit the blank to fall on said rotatable means whereby the blank is conveyed away.

9. In apparatus of the class described,

' means for depositing separate batches of ciged toward one another, means for folding the two pockets together so that the connecting portion of the blankV forms a closure forthe open-pocket ends, the two'` pockets having jcooperating interlocking portions v thereon adapted to engage to interlock the pockets when the latter are folded together.v n

10. In a machine for automatically wrapping cigarettes, the combination with means for feeding'a wrapper, of means for feeding` abatch of cigarettes transversely of the path of feed of the wrapper to cause the batch to engage and foldy the wrapper around one end of the cigarettes, means forreversing the batch and wrapper with respect to the direction of movement thereof, a continuous conveyor .for delivering the batch and partially folded kwrapper to said last named means, means engaged by the wrapper subsequent to the reversal thereof for folding the wrapper aboutfthek `opposite end of the batch,l anda secondv continuous conveyorfor removing the and carryingthe` same through said last named means. Y f a 11. In a machine` for automatically wrapping cigarettes, the combination with means for feeding a wrapper, of means for. feeding a batch of cigarettes transversely `of the path of feed of the wrapper to cause the batch to engage and fold the wrapper around one end of the cigarettes, means for reversing the Vbatch andwrapper from said reversing means i batchand wrapper with respect to the direction of movementthereof, a'continuous conveyor for delivering thebatch and partially folded Wrapper to said lastnanied means, means` engaged by the wrapper subsequent to the reversaly thereof for folding the'lwrap-l per about the opposite end of the batch, and a second continuous. conveyor for removing thek batch andv wrapper from said reversing means and carrying the same through saidlast named means, said conveyors being disposedon opposite sides of the moving batches and having means projecting therefrom and intercepting thel path of movement of the batches. j y f 12. In a machine for wrapping cigarettes, the combinationwith a continuous conveyor for feedingV a batch of cigarettes a predetermined pathof movement against. a strip of wrapping material to causey the latter to fold about one end ofthe batch, means for swinging y.the cigarettes through anarc having its center spaced from the path of movement of the batch in a direction initially opposed to the direction of movement of the Vbatch in the said path for folding the wrapper about the opposite end of the batch, and a second continuous conveyor for removing the batch and wrapper from said means, said conveyors being disposed on opposite sides of the center of the arc through which the means is swung.

13. In a machine for wrapping cigarettes,

the combination with means for feeding.' a batch of cigarettes in a predetermined path of movement against a strip of wrapping material to cause the latter to fold about one end ofthe batch, means for receiving the batch and wrapper from said last named means and reversing the position thereof with respect to the direction of movement, a continuous conveyor for withdrawing the batch and Wrapper from said last named means, a second continuous conveyor disposed beneath the first conveyor and arranged to receive the batch and wrapper from the end of the first conveyor, and a'presser plate for engaging and pressing the wrapped batchV as the latter falls on the second conveyor.

1 4. In apparatus of the class described, means for depositing separate batches of cigarettes on separate sections of av carton blank, means for folding the separate sections about the batches to form two cigarette containing pockets having thel open ends thereof-directed toward oney another, means for folding the two pockets together so that the connecting portion of the blank forms a closure for the open pocket ends, the two pockets having cooperating interlocking portions thereon, and means for guiding one of said pockets toward the other pocket to ensure engagement'of said cooperating inter-y locking portions when the pockets are folded together. f 15. In apparatus Vof vthe class described,` means for depositing separate batches of cigarettes on separate sections of Va carton` blank, means for folding the separate sections about the batches to form two cigarettey containing f pockets having the open ends thereof directed toward one another,` means for folding the two pockets together so that the connecting portion yof the blank forms a closure for the open pocketends, onevofsaid pockets having a tongue yprojecting therefrom and the other of said pocketsjhaving a slit therein to receive the said tongue, and

means for guiding one of the pockets toward the other pocket to direct the tongue into the slit when the pockets are folded together.

In Vtestimony whereof I hereunto Vaiix my signature.

, `WALTER EVERETT MoLINs.- 

